My review of the Sigma SD Quattro - Its special

[Lobbamobba]

This is a modern mirrorless camera with an APS-C sized sensor. But its also so much more than that.
This camera is truly unique. And without breaking the bank.


Build is very solid and a unique design.

It seems to me that you either ”get” the whole Foveon sensor thing or you don’t.
If you don’t like them or have any interest in them a review won’t change your mind.
So happy trails to you..

The people that love them and maybe already have a Foveon camera, you won’t need a review either.
You are already on the dark side and can’t return.

And if you are undecided I urge you not to spend a lot of money on your first Foveon camera.
The older models, specially the DSLRs are dirt cheap. So start there.
Or at least do plenty of research first.

The group I however can recommend this camera to straight away, is film shooters.
If you are just like me. Experiment with 35mm, Medium Format, Polaroid, Pack Film, Large Format, or what have you. If you love colors and tonality in B&W. If you sometimes like to take it slow.
Then this camera might be for you.




My old vintage flash works great on the SD.



I have made a video review with more thoughts and plenty of image samples:

But here is a sum up:

Pros:

• Image Qualiy
  Sharp, detailed and gorgeous colors.
• Build
  This is a tank.. scratch that, aircraft carrier.. no star destroyer.
• Grip
  Very comfortable and chunky.
• Prize
  The 30mm f1.4 combo is very affordable.
• Colors
  Did I mention the colors.
• Lens life
  You can use the lenses on Sony with an electronic adapter and don't have to lock them to one system.

Cons:

• Speed
  There is none.
• Lowlight
  There is none. Like I said in my DP1 review. You can take pictures in the dark. But it will stay fairly dark.
• EVF
  It works for composition but is very low res.
• SD Slot
  There is only one, would have loved two.

Samples




One of my all time favorite pictures of Gunpowder.




We can argue about AF speed until the cows come home. Bud man those colors...




Mega boring test shot.




Crop of mega boring test shot.

 

[JojoChuang]

Matt, thanks for the input!

I enjoy your youtube channel a lot since I accidentally ran into it while searching for foveon related video (then I got hooked .)

Have you try the H version? I was debating between them. SDQ has great price and potential, easier and cheaper lens. However I lean toward H more because of the APS-H, APSC switch function and H will not scale the file when iso goes up. Plus I want to unlock my old M42 zeiss Jena ...
Would love to hear some input from you who use a lot film and old lenses.
Does Aps-H and APSC show a lots of differences for the old M42 FF lenses?

And Gunpowder is super cute. We have a creamy color one with tons of characteristic.Meet Tumi (Photo were taken by my Dp1 Merrill)

 

[Lobbamobba]

First of, great looking dog, very cute

Pretty much the only reason I bought the SDQ instead of the SDQH was money. I found a great deal on it and went for it.

If you have the money for the bigger sensor I would go for it.

 

[xpatUSA]

My old vintage flash works great on the SD.

An excellent example of this Forum's on-going refusal to call these cameras "sd".

"sd" on the camera, "SD" in the caption. :-D

--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.

 

[Lobbamobba]

Sigma trying to be different in every aspect

 

[JojoChuang]

Sigma trying to be different in every aspect

That's what I like of them, being bold and different.
(Although you probably need other camera for more common use lol)

 

[Scottelly]

My old vintage flash works great on the SD.

An excellent example of this Forum's on-going refusal to call these cameras "sd".

"sd" on the camera, "SD" in the caption. :-D

--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.

What?!?



--
Scott Barton Kennelly

http://www.bigprintphotos.com

 

[xpatUSA]

Sigma trying to be different in every aspect

:-D

 

[xpatUSA]

My old vintage flash works great on the SD.

An excellent example of this Forum's on-going refusal to call these cameras "sd".

"sd" on the camera, "SD" in the caption. :-D

--
"What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate": 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.

What?!?



--
Scott Barton Kennelly
http://www.bigprintphotos.com

What we've got hyah is Failyah to Communicate:



sd on the cam, SD in the caption . . ..

 

[mdavidp]

Matt,

You are spot on.

If IQ, gorgeous colors, detail and craftsmanship are your thing, Sigma is the place for you.

Mike P

PS, Did I mention Sigma's ever increasing constellation of first class lenses?

 

[Charles Chien]

Lobbamobba wrote:

We can argue about AF speed until the cows come home. Bud man those colors...

Thanks for sharing your review.

I am looking at this pictures of cows, and it appears to me that there are color fringing at the outer edge of the lens. Take a look at the cow with a white head where the left side of both of its eyes has greenish fringing, and the top of its head to our left there is a magenta fringing. Similar fringing can be found on the left most cow and the cow behind it. Is it typical of this 30mm 1.4 lens? I would think it's the lens, but then it seems this particular photo shows most fringing. What's your take about this?



Thanks again,

--
Charles

 

[Lobbamobba]

Its the lens when shot wide open or close to it.

Nothing to worry about imo, but if you are picky about that sort of thing I suggest getting the 35mm.

 

[ASmotophotos]

I inherited a dp1 Quattro less than a month ago. It has an intermittent sensor... a pain, like flipping coins, but when I get a good shot with all pixels firing... oh my!

Now I'm hooked and looking to purchase my first. Thank you for your brief, informative, and funny review.